According to Erniola (1994), Sport is a programme just to keep the students busy and away from mischief. Additionally, it is meant for students to while away their time when they do not want to be in the library and laboratories. Unfortunately, the public expectation is that the universities should produce the cream of sportsmen and women to represent a country at International Sports competitions such as Commonwealth, All Africa and even Olympic games.

In the Western countries such as United States of America, Canada and Great Britain, Universities produce players and athletes for their national teams. East African Universities therefore have a challenge to produce world-beaters. The Sport and games tutors and coaches find themselves in a dilemma of trying to involve as many students as possible within the institutional and structural limitations and also to rouse teams that can win nationally organised events to project the image of the institutions.

In an attempt to fulfil the twin objectives of recreation and elite performance one ends up achieving neither to a level that can be appreciated by the institutional heads the public and the political establishment.

Situational Analysis and Conceptual Base

The performance of university teams and individuals like and other in the competitive world can be conceptualised in terms of the factors that influence performance outcome. These factors affecting sports performance can be grouped into two, namely internal and external ones.

The internal or inner factors are individual based and include one's disposition physical abilities, talents, technique, physique, tactics and psychological orientation. These factors are amenable to training. Sports tutors and coaches try in their day today engagements to improve or modify these individual based factors so that they can produce winners.

In addition to the internal factors, there are the external ones which include issues such as funding (finances) facilities, equipment, opposition, incentives, personnel, sports policy Institutional structure institutional policies, among others (Fmiolea 1994; Singh, 1982, Njororai, 1997). Thus sports involvement in the Universities can only be enhanced it coaches sports tutors and their related staffs, such as Deans of students among others appreciate the broad factors that impinge on team performance and therefore require attention (See Figure)

Figure 1: Conceptual understanding of the role of Sports Tutor

Figure 1 illustrates the external factors that impinge on the internal ones and the subsequent performance in training and competition - ideally when all factors have been taken care-off performance should be good. If performance is not good one looks backward to identify the service of the problem (s).

Sports Tutors' Role and Function

1. Technical Roles
2. Teacher: Imparts knowledge and skills to students
3. Trainer: Prescribes conditioning programme to improve and maintain athlete's fitness levels
4. Instructor: Directs activities and practices for athletes
5. Motivator: Sets goals for players as well as shaping the altitude and will of the athletes
6. Disciplinarian: Establishes system of rules to guide rewards and punishment to athletes
7. Managerial and administrative roles
8. Manager: Organising planning co-ordinating, evaluating, delegating, budgeting, staffing for student's activities as well as other department obligations. The sports tutor is involved in organising sports events, planning for student activities, co-ordinating sports as well as budgeting and seeking sponsorship. By virtue of his/her technical skills, the tutor is also expected to plan and manage teams on external engagements nationally and internationally.
9. Administrator: Deals with office work, keeping records, filing player profiles, communication, and meetings
10. Publicity agent: Projects the image of the teams and the department to the outside public within and without the institution
11. Social worker: Counsels and advice staff and students. This entails knowing the clients talking and listening to them.
12. Friend: Involves being sensitive to the needs of both players and even staff. The sports tutor gives support as well as sharing confidential information. (Alao, 1996: Thompson, 1991; Jensen, 1988; Leith, 1990; Bucher and Krotee, 1993; Kozoll, 1985.
13. Scientific Roles
14. Scientist: One is expected to scout on opposing institutional capacities, carry out an analysis as well as evaluating own teams performances. Through analysis, can also identify problems that require solving.
15. Student: Sports tutor should be a good listener, learner and constantly seeks new knowledge. One strives to improve his/her teams by adapting new approaches in training as well as strategies in the various games.
16. Researcher: Formulate and design researches on various topical issues and discriminating the same to various consumers. (Thompson, 1991;
17. Legal roles:
18. Proper planning and execution of activities e.g. learning processes, travelling.
19. Providing proper instruction during training etc
20. Providing a safe learning and competition environment
21. Providing adequate and proper equipment
22. Evaluating the players for any injuries or incapacity
23. Supervising the activities closely
24. Keeping adequate records for players and staff
25. Provide appropriate emergency assistance
26. Following due process when dealing with athletes and even staff

(Asembo, 1997; Njororai, 1997 Bucher 1987; Bucher & Krotee, 1993 Thompson, 1991)

1. Leadership role
2. Vision: The sports tutors are vision carriers for the sports departments. They should therefore be conversant with the vision and mission of their Department's vis-à-vis those of the institution.
3. Mobilisation: They ensure that all resources are mobilised towards the attainment of the departmental vision and mission
4. Role Model: They are a model for the players' staff and the members of the community. They should be on the forefront of promoting sportsmanship and fair play both Intra and Inter-Institutionally.
5. Ethics: They respect the roles and regulations put in place to promote fair competitions. Sports tutors ensure that officials and referees are treated with courtesy and respect. The opposing teams should also be treated with courtesy and respect. The opposing teams should also be treated with courtesy during competitions. It is also important that only the eligible athletes represent on institution in official Inter-University competitions.

Qualifications and Skills

For a Sports Tutor to be able to play his/her roles effectively, one requires to have conceptual skills, integrity, human skills, decision making, leadership skills, command of administrative and managerial skills as well as having a sound intellectual capacity.

1. Conceptual Skills; These include the abilities to view the organisation as a whole, to originate ideas, to sense and resolve problems for the good of the organisation (Bucher & Krote 1993, Leith, 1985). This also involves seeing the bigger picture of issues, activities and the organisation.
2. Integrity: This involves the ability of the sports tutor to inspire staff members and players, have their co-operation and achieve the purposes of the organisation. It helps when staff and students feel that their sports tutor is honest, sincere, keeps promises and can be entrusted with confidential information (Bucher, 1987; Bucher & Krote 1993).
3. Human relations skills; These include the sports tutors ability to develop good working relationships along staff and players; to get along with people and to provide a working climate where people aspire to do the best for the organisation. To accomplish that, one should therefore be friendly, consolidate, attentive, careful, honest, fair, wise, tolerant, humble and plans ahead of time.
4. Decision-making: Should be able to discern what is important and what is reasonable, what is in the best chance for success. One should also be able to anticipate the consequences of decisions made. A sports tutor needs to make decisions pertaining to student activities and advice accordingly. Procrastination can be costly in situations that demand instant decisions. (Bucher, 1987; Bucher & Krote, 1993)
5. Health and fitness for the Job: Sports Tutors should be in a physical state given the demanding nature of the job. Socrates once said that people in a state of bad health often made the wrong decision in regard to affairs of state. According to Bucher (1987) "it is possible for a manager to retain confidence continuously only if he or she is in good health and physically fit to perform arduous duties. (p 17)
6. Other key skill oriented Qualities that a sports tutor should possess include acceptance of responsibility, understanding of the nature of his or her work, a command of technical skills, above average intellectual capacity, initiative and courage

Conclusions:

A sports Tutor in a university setting is faced with diverse challenges which therefore demand various skills including technical, human, conceptual and leadership ones. Hence it is vital that such persons go out of their way to upgrade themselves so as to measure up to the tasks that they face in the day to day discharge of duties.

This new drive has seen small to medium scale industries being created and run by ordinary Zimbabweans who previously did not dream of owning or running a business. While five years ago, people would jostle for jobs at factories in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city and industrial hub, these days the slogan is: "Create your own job" and contribute to national development.

Government figures show that about 80 percent of the Zimbabwean economy is in the hands of small businesses, i.e. small farmers, small miners, small producers, small exporters and small marketers. All of these people combined form a big part of the economy.

The small to medium enterprises (SME) sector has grown to become one of the biggest employers in Zimbabwe, particularly at a time when employment within the formal sector has shrunk rapidly.

According to estimates from the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, at least 70 percent of Zimbabwe's working population is employed in the informal sector. This figure could rise as more and more people are developing their entrepreneurial skills through vocational training so as to be able to venture into product-manufacturing businesses.

Two young men in Bulawayo have demonstrated that building a successful business enterprise does not require one to have a Masters in Business Administration or plenty of capital, but sheer determination and focus.
The two, Derrick Dube and Easy Kazeze both aged 24, have been running a successful artifacts business along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road, one of the country's busiest highways.

What started off as a hobby for the two young men in their backyards has turned out to be a vibrant business enterprise, earning their families much-needed income. Made from a special type of reed grass, their household range of products e.g. bar stools, hanging chairs, ornaments etc which are in demand locally are now finding their way onto the export market.

My success is a result of hard work and determination after years of suffering. I could not get a job because I didn't have any qualifications, in the end a friend convinced me to venture into business and become my own employer, said Kazeze.

This was not the case for his business partner, Dube, who was retrenched from a brick-making firm three years ago, when the company streamlined its activities following a dip in the construction business. "I toiled for years, trying to find another job, but companies were not employing anymore".

"I never really thought I could do something for myself, starting a business was never in my mind. I loved art so much and during my spare time, I used to make small ornaments which I displayed in my home. I never thought, this could be a talent that I could explore and develop," said Dube. Now, with a monthly turnover of around Z$55 million, the business has given their families a lifeline.

What makes their business enjoy so much success is the uniqueness of their products and the artistic flair exhibited in their designs. "We receive a lot of orders from visitors to the country, this way our products have attracted a lot of foreign customers. We get orders from as far as South Africa, Zambia and Botswana, this has helped us a lot," added Dube.

The business has also received a lot of support from locals who order products in bulk for sale throughout the country. The business has enabled the owners to buy equipment such as welding machines and it has also generated employment for three youths. "Our wish now is to expand our business and diversify our product range, but to do that we need capital," said Kazeze.

This is one of the major hurdles faced by local entrepreneurs trying to develop their businesses. The majority of small businesses are hamstrung by a lack of adequate financing, particularly in the absence of collateral security.

Government has however promised that it will do everything in its power to nurture and grow the small to medium scale sector. It has so far this year allocated a total of $55.4 billion in loan facilities to support small to medium enterprises. More than 3000 jobs have been created and a further 2000 sustained.

Addressing mourners at the national heroes acre recently, President Mugabe said "apart from a revolving fund for SME"s, Government was determined to establish bigger markets for locally produced goods'. He said, in order to equip business owners with the requisite skills that would enable them operate effectively; training in various business management programs was in progress in all the country's provinces.

It is now commonplace to find items made from cane in a wealthy persons home and also in restaurants, hotels and places of attraction.

Cane is derived from a type of palm plant, the stem of the plant is solid, strong and flexible, this makes it ideal for use in the manufacture of furniture, baskets and other woven products. It is easy to work with, requiring only simple tools and low-cost machines. Eighteen species of the plant can be found in Cameroon, however only three species have the required diameter, fibre wall thickness and density of fibrous tissue that make them most suitable for commercial use.

The increased demand for cane based products is proving to be a boon, many jobless Cameroonians are turning to the trade as a means of earning a living.

In Douala, those who design such products are clustered in different parts of the town, their goods are clearly displayed to attract customers.

24 year old Nwanawasa Paul has been involved in the trade for the past 7 years, he was previously jobless and got involved as a means of trying to earn a living, he soon discovered he had a natural ability with cane. We caught up with him to find out a bit more.

AG: What do you manufacture and what are the materials and processes you use?

NP: I produce chairs (sets), tables, baskets, cupboards and other general items, I use cane/ rattan to construct them. Larger sections of cane are used to create the frame and for strength while smaller pieces are interwoven to provide definition and beauty.

I use steam to bend the cane rather than a blowgun as it reduces discoloration and tarnishing through scorch marks. I then bleach the finished products to obtain uniformity of colour, this is especially important when cane from different species are used to make a product. I sometimes dip the cane in kerosene; this provides protection against insect attack. When I use varnish I apply it in two coats, I usually sand lightly before adding the second coat, this ensures an even and long-lasting finish.

AG: What is the profile of your customers?

NP: It varies, I have customers from all walks of life, both private and trade e.g. wholesalers and exporters, although exporters are the most difficult to come by.

AG: Why are exporters difficult to reach?

NP: The truth is I am not very well connected so I find it difficult to reach them.

AG: What other difficulties do you face?

NP: Rain, during the rainy season my activities are greatly interrupted. I can come up against material scarcity due to the fact that suppliers are also hindered by the rains.

AG: Do you work in collaboration with others?

NP: Yes, I need the expertise of a tailor who sews cushions, I also engage with carpenters who supply me with wooden components that I incorporate into some of my designs.

AG: Is business very good?

NP: The products I produce sell at between 2.5 - 500 pounds. I only know if I have made a profit at the end of the year when I prepare my yearly accounts.

AG: What is your goal?

NP: There are many. I dream of having a big factory that supplies wholesalers and exporters. In order to expand my business, I plan to seek the financial assistance of government and other organisations that promote small and medium size enterprises.

AG: Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

In Cameroon, cane is considered an "open-access" resource that can be collected from forests, there are very few laws regulating its harvest and state control often does not adequately monitor its exploitation. Increasing urban growth has led to developments that are encroaching on forests and high demand for cane products has led to the threat of over-harvesting of the resource; this can lead to poor quality cane stems being used and thus inconsistent quality of products.

Cane is important at many levels in local communities, its exploitation through the cutting and trading of raw cane for transformation into goods, can occupy up to about 35 per cent of a households time. As it can be harvested all year round, it provides valuable cash income for much needed school fees and medical expenses

Cane is one of the most important non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Cameroon. The gathering, selling and processing of it has many advantages and can help forest dependent people lift themselves from the margines of poverty.

We witness that there are a lot of nay sayers also, who are coming up with the various problems that arise from this type of economic investments, from distrust of the motives of the Chinese to distrust of the business competence of the African people, including the well-known corruption of African businesses.

Certainly all African business professionals are not corrupt, however, if this is the perception it is problematically for honorable African business people to do business. So certainly the Chinese when doing business with African business people are going to have to work with these Africans to prove that these are honorable businesses and honorable business efforts. This is a problem of proof for both the Chinese and the Africans.

It's also possible that the nay sayers are corrupt in their motives.

Nevertheless, we don't want the Africans again to become the pawns of another people. Certainly the Chinese might make better colonials than the Europeans, nevertheless we don't want the Africans to just become the pawns of another colonial power after their own self-interests and not the interests of African peoples.

Nevertheless, this is something for African peoples to determine. It's good that the Chinese are interested in doing business with African peoples, and are taking an interest in the development of the peoples of Africa. It's good if the Africans are able to relate to the Chinese.

Certainly Europeans who are concerned about both "colored peoples" are going to be wary of this coalition, and possibly might try to disrupt it.

If so, it's probably not going to be the type of disruption that you even notice European involvement.

The Chinese and Africans are going to have to make sure that they work together wisely and that both have a perceptual problem as it involves Western powers and Western hegemony. Much of these perceptual problems are stereotypes that Westerners have of non-Westerners, others have been the mistakes, misdirections and corruptions of the peoples themselves. Yet, no different than the mistakes, misdirections, and corruptions of European peoples.

Nevertheless, we applaud the interest of the Chinese in the African peoples and the interest of the African peoples in the Chinese peoples. However, the interests of neither should be just rank "self-interests."

The Chinese and Africans in working together on these projects should learn from their own histories and the histories of other peoples.

And if the Chinese just want to be the world's new colonials, don't make the same mistakes as the world's old colonials.

But in the meantime--message to the schoolchildren--continue to learn Chinese.